Culvert end section forming machine



Dec. 1, 1970 E I 3,543,558

CULVERT END SECTION FORMING MACHINE Filed Sept. 4. 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1:IIIIIIJ INVENT OR. Eh/ELL V/V ,(4. CUBE/5B 1970 L. M. CURRIER CULVERTEND SECTION FORMING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 4. 196BINVENIOR. 1 511/524 4 4 M 2022/52 BY M,

3,543,558 CULVERT END SECTION FORMING MACHINE Lewellyn M. Currier, Box63E, Rte. 1, Wayzata, Minn. 55391 Filed Sept. 4, 1968, Ser. No. 757,273Int. Cl. B21d 11/04 US. Cl. 72-306 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Ametal forming machine in which a metal apron is formed from a sheet ofmetal on a mandrel through the use of bending arms and plates which rolland bend the metal plate against the mandrel. The mandrel isinterchangeable for varying sizes of metal aprons.

My invention relates to metal forming machines and more particularly toan improved metal forming machine particularly adapted for the formingof culvert end sections or metal aprons.

Metal forming machines are well known and take a variety of forms. Inthe forming of metallic objects from flat metal plates, it is wellrecognized to use dies or equivalent structures upon which to form thedesired part. Such machines are complex, bulky and do not lendthemselves to ready interchangeability of dies to fabricate varyingsizes of the metallic product. In addition, the power requirements forsuch machines and the complexity of the same do not lend such machinesto ready interchangeability for varying sizes of desired end products.

The improved forming machine of the present invention is particularlyadapted for the manufacture or forming of culvert end sections or metalaprons in which a thin, flat metallic plate is bent to form the desiredend section or apron. This simplified forming machine utilizes a mandrelwith bending and roller arms to bend the plate into the desired shapeand permits the ready interchangeability on the machine of larger sizedmandrels to permit the fabrication of varying sizes of the culvert endsections without altering of the power requirements or the actuators forthe same. It further permits interchangeability of mandrels in a minimumamount of time and with a minimum amount of effort to substantiallydecrease operating cost for the machine.

Therefore, it is the principal object of this invention to provide animproved forming machine utilizing a mandrel construction for formingmetal parts thereon.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a machine of thistype, ready interchangeability of mandrel sizes for varying sizedarticles of manufacture.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a machine of thistype which is easy to use, low in cost and easy to maintain.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from thereading of the attached description, together with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the improved metal forming machine;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the improved metal forming machine,with parts broken away, in the condition shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the improved metal forming machinewith a blank metal plate inserted therein for the first step of theforming operation;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the rear end of the mandrel for themetal forming machine with its roller and bending arms in an operatedcondition;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the front end of the mandrel of FIG. 4;

States ate 3,543,558 Patented Dec. 1, 1970 FIG. 6 is a perspective viewfrom the rear of the improved metal forming machine with parts brokenaway;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the metal blank used in the forming of thearticles on the meal forming machine; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the finished metallic article or metalapron.

My improved metal forming machine, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, iscomprised basically of a base frame, indicated generally at 10, andgenerally polygonal in form. The base frame includes an upper table-likeframe 12 and a plurality of depending legs 14 supporting the same. Thelegs 14 and upper frame 12 are preferably formed of angle iron, suitablyconnected together through means, such as welding, to provide a rigidbase structure. Intermediate the upper frame part are a pair of angleiron beam members 16 suitably spaced from one another and connected tothe edges of the upstanding frame through means such as welding, toserve as a support portion of the upper frame and to mount an actuator,as will be hereinafter defined. In addition, the upper frame partincludes extensions 18 at one end thereof to mount a cylindrical supportmember 20 which journals and supports a mandrel support member comprisedof a cylindrical sleeve 26 mounted on the support member 20 with anupstanding flange part 27 and an I beam member 28 suitably connectedthereto, through means such as welding, and extending transverse of thesleeve part 26 to be disposed generally above and parallel to the tableportion 12 of the base frame. The cylindrical sleeve member will pivotthe support member on the pipe or cylindrical member 20 formovementrelative t0 the base frame. The upstanding part or frame 27 ofthe sleeve member 26 includes a pair of spaced arms 30 which serve tomount a mandrel 40 upon which the flat metal plates are to be formed.Also connected to the sleeve member 26 is a centrally located bifurcatedlatch member 32 which is secured to the sleeve member 26 through meanssuch as welding.

The improved forming machine utilizes the mandrel 40 mounted on the Ibeam or mandrel support 28 for making or forming the culvert endsections or metal aprons thereon from metal sheets. For culvert end sections or aprons of varying sizes, this portion of the machine is changedand mandrels of different dimensions are used to form aprons of varyingsizes. Such an apron is shown in perspective in FIG. 8 and the mandrel40 is of the same shape since a fiat metal plate is positioned under thesame and bent around the mandrel to form the metal apron. In outline orplan view, the mandrel and the apron describe a generally truncatedconical structure whose forward or smaller extremity, indicatedgenerally at 42, is cylindrical in form such that the apron will, atthis extremity, be formed into a general cylindrical configuration to beconnected to a cylindrical pipe section. The free or discharge extremityof the apron is flat with the sides thereof tapering from the flatextremity and with a downwardly extending flap at the flat extremity.Each of the mandrels are constructed with this outer surface and withthe exteremity of the mandrel remote from the cylindrical end having ahinged flap or bending structure 44 thereon. Located within the mandreland suitably connected to the outer forming walls thereof is a centralsleeve member 46 which is generally rectangular in cross section andfits on the I beam portion 28 of the mandrel support to slida-bly mountthe mandrel thereon. The rear, or flap bending end of the mandrel, hasan interior flat surface with flange plates 45 which connect to therigid arms 30 of the mandrel support through suitable pins 47 to securethe mandrel on this portion of the support. The hinged flap or bendingstructure 44 defines the rear extremity of the mandrel which ispositioned on the mandrel support to be adjacent the journaling shaft orpipe section 20 of the frame and the sleeve portion 26 of the mandrelsupport. As will be hereinafter noted, the under surface of this flapbending structure carries a flange 117 by means of which an actuator maybe connected to the bending flap for pivoting the same in the bending ofthe rear or discharge end of the apron.

Mandrel 40 at the upper or closed extremity of the same and forming apart of the cylindrical outline, carries a slidable plate 48 which isslidably mounted in U-shaped guide members 50 positioned in the outerframe. This portion of the mandrel, in addition to defining a generallycylindrical outline at the extremity of the same, is curved to present agenerally semi-circular upper surface as will be seen in FIGS. 1, 4 and6. A pair of flat plates 52, 53 are positioned on this upper surface ofthe mandrel mounting the guide portions 50 for the plate 48 with theplates 52, 53 mounting pivoted arms 55, 56, respectively, each havingroller or bending members 60 at the extremities of the same. The radiusof curvature of this portion of the upper surface of the mandrel isidentical with the path of movement of the rollers, which are slightlyspaced therefrom such as to grip the rolled edge of the plate to beformed thereon between the rollers and the mandrel surface and causebending of the plate. The arms 55, 56 have rigid flange members 62connected thereto, the extremities of which connect through a pair oflevers 63, 64, respectively, mounted on the slidable plate 48. Thus, asthe plate slides away from the closed extremity of the mandrel, the arms55, 56 will pivot with the roller ends of the same being guided aroundthe curved edge of the mandrel as the levers 63, 64 pull the flangemembers 62 of the arms down wardly.

As will be hereinafter identified, the flat plate, which is to be bentinto the form of a metal apron or culvert end section, is positionedbeneath the mandrel (see FIGS. 4, 6) such that the forward edges of theblank are positioned and gripped by the rollers and held against thesurface of the mandrel. As the arms 55, 56 pivot, the roller extremitiesroll the edge of the plate against the surface of the mandrel formingthe general cylindrical end section and the curved top peripheralsurface of the same.

In addition to the rollers 60 on the arms which perform a bendingfunction on one end of the plate blank for the metal apron, additionalarms 70, 72 with bending flanges 73, 74, respectively, at the ends ofthe same and gripping portions 75, 76 formed integral therewith andspaced therefrom, engage the opposite edge or end of the plate blank toperform the remainder of the bending operation to define the dischargeend of the apron by urging the same against the mandrel and bending theedges to define the general outline of the discharge portion of themetal apron. The arms 70, 72 are carried by a pivoted upstanding frame80, which frame is pivoted on the arms 30 of the mandrel support memberthrough suitable support pivots 82. A centrally located frame part 85 ofthis structure, which is formed integral with the outer edges of thesame, mounts a tie bar member 90 whose opposite extremity is pinned tothe slidable plate 48, as at 95. This will insure that the plate in theforward end of the mandrel and the upstanding frame part 85 carrying thearms 70, 72 will simultaneously be moved. An actuator, shown as of thehydraulic type and indicated at 100, has its shaft extremity 102pivotally mounted on the inner surface of the mandrel, as at 103, withthe cylindrical extremity of the same being pivoted on the central part85 of the upstanding frame 80, as at 105. Energization of the hydraulicactuator through fluid flow to the same will cause the actuator shaft toextend, urging the pivoted frame about its pivots and moving theslidable plate 48 through the tie linkage 90 connected to the upstandingframe. The arms 70, 72 are mounted on sleeves 106, 107 slidablypositioned on the outer portions of the upstanding frame and areconnected thereto through snap type couplings 108 to removably mount thearms thereon. The sleeves slide on the upstanding frame until theyengage pins 109, which are adjustably positioned therein in a pluralityof apertures 111 to limit the slidable movement of the sleeves 106, 107on the upstanding frame 80. This adjustment of the sleeve movementprovides for a certain lost motion imparted to the arms and permitting aportion of the bending of the forward end of the apron before thebending surfaces engage the discharge end of the blank to bend the edgesthereof against the mandrel 40. By adjusting the position of the pins109, various degrees of movement are permitted between the arms and theupstanding frame before the bending action takes place, therebyadjusting the structure for varying sized mandrels and aprons to beformed thereon.

In addition to actuator which moves the upstanding frame to operate theslidable plate and pivot the roller arms 55, 56 as well as rock and pullon the bending arms 70, 72 to bend the lower or discharge end of theapron, an actuator is positioned on the beam members 16 of the frame andadapted to operate the flap bending portion 44 of the mandrel 40. Theactuator 110 is pivoted at its body or cylinder extremity on the frameparts 16 of the base frame with the shaft extremity 112 carrying abell-crank type linkage 115 having a portion connected to the flapbending structure 44 at a pivotal connection, indicated at 117, and adownwardly extending portion 118, which under certain conditions ofoperation will be pivoted toward and positioned between the bifurcatedlatch member 32 on the sleeve member 26 for the purpose of rotating theentire mandrel support structure and elevating the beam 28, to permitinserting and removal of apron blanks and bent apron forms, togetherwith the removal of mandrels 40 for the interchange of the same toadjust the machine for varying sized apron construction operations.

The elevation view of FIG. 3 shows the mandrel 40 with the mandrelsupport in an elevated position. Under these conditions of operation,the shaft 112 of actuator 110 has been extended such that the crankextremity 118 is positioned between a bifurcated latch member 32 andpinned thereto. Subsequent retraction of the shaft 112 throughenergization of the actuator 110 elevates the entire mandrel supportstructure with the mandrel thereon by pivoting the same. This is thecondition of operation of the machine necessary for insertion of a blankout of which a metal apron is to be formed. In FIG. 7, a blank is showngenerally at 125, the blank being basically thin sheet metal of anywherefrom 12. to 16 gauge galvanized steel. The blank has an arcuate recess128 therein, which when formed around the mandrel, define the generallyplane or cylindrical end surface. In addition, the sheet metal blank hasrolled or tubing edges 130 extending along the sides of the same, whichedges may be formed by splitting a piece of tubular metal and securingthe same to the edge of the sheet through riveting or other means. Theextremity of the blank opposite the recess is slotted, as at 132, whichslotted portion will be bent down to form the lip portion of the metalapron.

In FIG. 3, the blank is inserted into the machine beneath the mandrelsuch that the rear edge of the same is disposed over the edge of theupper frame part with the notches or slots 132 therein coinciding withthe edge of the upper frame portion so that the entire slotted portionmay be bent down. The slotted portion of the blank will be positionedunderneath the flap folding structure 44 of the mandrel, and theintermediate or spaced frame parts 16 will serve to support the blankbeneath the mandrel in the elevated position. Energization of theactuator 110 to extend the shaft thereof, lowering the beam 28 of themandrel support structure with the mandrel thereon down onto the frame,will follow the insertion of the blank. In this position, the beam 28,supporting the mandrel 40, will be disposed generally parallel to theintermediate frame member 16 of the upper frame part of the base andspaced therefrom. The mandrel will be disposed, centrally on the blankwith the portion of the blank extending beyond the table and underneaththe flap folding portion of the mandrel 44. The beam 2-8 is held inposition relative to the frame base by means of a latch member 140 onthe end of the beam which is engaged by a latch lever 142 on the frame,-the latter being pivoted up to engage the latch member 140 on the beamto secure the same in the spaced parallel relationship with the base. Inthis position, the pin will be removed from the latch member 32 of thesleeve member 26 Supporting the mandrel support structure, and the bellcrank end extremity 118 of the flange will then be free to rotate as theactuator is energized to withdraw or move the shaft portion 112 withinthe confines of the cylinder. Energization of the cylinder or hydraulicactuator in this direction will cause the flap folding member 44 on themandrel to pivot through the connection 117 of the flange 115. As theactuator shaft is retracted, the flange part is pivoted transverse tothe mandrel, bending the slotted portion of the blank normal to theextent of the same. With this flap part of the apron formed, the edgesof the blank are then raised around the surface of the mandrel to apoint where the rollers 60 on the end of the arms 55, 56 will engage andhold the rolled edge or tubing portion of the blank. The rollers arerecessed such as to fit around the rolled edge so that the blank will beheld up against the sides of the mandrel. Similarly, the arms 70, 72 arepositioned sothat the cam or bending portions 73, 74 thereon and theholding portions 75, 76 engage the opposite extremities of the blank.The blank must be manually deflected so that the grooved cam surfaceswill fit over the rolled or tubular edge of the blank to hold the same.

In this position of operation, the actuator 100 is retracted, that isits shaft is within the confines of the actuator and the upstandingframe mounting the arms 70, 72 will be pivoted to a substantially normalposition with respect to the base frame with the plate 48 on the end ofthe mandrel being extended out toward the peripheral edge of the sameand the arms 55, 56 mounting the bending rollers 60 being disposedsubstantially normal to the extent of the plate 50. With the blank inthis position and held in this manner and with the pins 109 in theupstanding frame 80 positioned for the particular size of apron to limitmovement of the sleeves 106, 107 thereon, the actuator 100 is energizedto extend the shaft 102 and displace or pivot the upstanding frame 80moving the linkage 90 and the plate 48 connected thereto in response toactuator movement. This will cause downward movement of the plateinitially, causing the arms 55, 56 to pivot around the curved extremityof the frame bending the pipe or tubular portion of the blank. As theupstanding frame is pivoted, the sleeves 106, 107 slide thereon untilthe pins 109 are engaged, at which point further movement of theupstanding frame 80 through the arms 70, 72 will tend to draw the sidesof the blank held by the cam surfaces 73, 74 thereon upwardly and aroundthe rear mandrel surface. The locus of pivot of the arms 70, 72 is suchthat the holding extremities of the arms 75, 76 will force theextremities of the blank outwardly and the cam surfaces 73, 74 will bendthe same to define the overall apron shape. As the actuator is movedthrough its extreme of movement, the blank will bend into the form of aculvert end section or metal apron as defined by the mandrel shapethrough operation of the bending arms 70, 72 and rollers 60 on therolling arms 55, 56 of the mandrel. During this condition of operationthe actuator 110 will remain in its retracted posiiton with a flapfolding member 44 held down, holding the slotted portion of the blankagainst the end of the frame or base.

The linear actuators 100, 110, used on the improved forming machine, areshown herein as of the hydraulic type. As a part of the machine, a powersupply including an electric motor driving a pump and connected to afluid reservoir provides a source of fluid power to the actuators whichis controlled by bi-directional valves 162, 164 with suitable actuatinghandles 165 thereon to cause a reversal of flow through the valves tothe ends of the actuators from the reservoir and the pump forbi-directional and selected movement. It will be understood, however,that any type of motive source may be utilized, preferably fluid, andthat the motors may be of any type which will provide linear actuation.

FIG. 8 of the drawing shows the finished shape of the metal apron afterbending on the forming machine to the shape of the mandrel. Thisfinished blank requires riveting or other suitable connection to acylindrical coupling member for the purpose of adding the final shape tothe cylindrical end of the apron and additional end plates on the flapportion to provide a generally rectangular flap surface thereon. Thesewill be added by other manufacturing operations apart from the formingmachine.

In operation, the improved forming machine may be simply operated by theelevation of the mandrel support structure to a raised position, such asis shown in FIG. 3, for the insertion of a galvanized sheet metal blank125 with recess 128 and slotted edges therein. The blanks normally wouldhave the tubular edges applied thereto by rolling or by the addition ofslotted tubular members secured thereto. With the blank inserted, themachine is actuated to a lowered position wherein the mandrel supportstructure is latched with respect to the base frame and the actuator 110is released from the latch member 132. At this point, the energizationof the actuator 110 in the opposite direction will bend the slotted flapin the blank as the initial step of forming the metal apron. Reversal inthe direction of operation of the actuator 110 is effected by one or theother of the valves 162, 164 forming the controls from the hydraulicfluid source. With the flap portion of the apron bent, the rollers 60will be placed around the tubular edge of the blank and the arms 70, 72with the cams 73, 74 and holding edges 75, 76 thereon positioned toengage the roller edges of the blank for the bending operation to formthe same around the mandrel. As the actuator 100 is energized, the arms55, 56 will move to cause the rollers thereon to roll over the tubularedge of the plate blank drawing the same around the end of the mandreland forming the general cylindrical and curved configuration at thisextremity of the blank. Further movement of the actuator will cause thearms 70, 72 to draw on the edges of the blank bendng the same into thedischarge end configuration of the tpron. With the bending operationcomplete, the actuator 100 is reversed, releasing the rollers and armsfrom the bent blank. Thereafter, the actuator 100 is reversed in itsdirection of operation, raising the flap bending flange and permittingthe flange extremity 118 to be connected to latch member 32. Reversal ofthe actuator 110 at this point will cause the mandrel support structureto be elevated such that the blank may be removed from the mandrel and anew blank inserted for another operation. When it is desired to changemandrel sizes, a new mandrel is positioned on the I beam structure 28 ofproper size for the desired shape and size of the metal apron. The newmandrel structure will be connected to the upstanding frame part at thearms 30 attached to the plates 45 thereof and the actuator 100 will beconnected to the mandrel. Similarly, actuator 110 will be connected tothe flap folding structure 44 thereof through the linkage 115. Inaddition, the tie bar 90 will be connected to the sliding plate 48 ofthe mandrel for actuation of the arms 55, 56 thereon and the pins 109 inthe upstanding frame will be adjusted for the desired bending operationby the arms 70, 72 for the particular size of apron.

This simplified forming machine may be readily operated by one or twopeople in the construction of culvert end sections or metal aprons. Theapparatus requires only two conventional actuators and a conventionalpower source which are easy to install and maintain. The change from onemandrel size to another is readily eifected to removal of the mandrelfrom the I beam portion and the insertion of a new mandrel thereon. Thisstructure permits the forming of metal parts, such as aprons, in asimplified manner without complex machinery.

In considering this invention it should be remembered that the presentdisclosure is intended to be illustrative only and the scope of theinvention should be determined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A forming machine comprising a base member, a mandrel support memberpivotally mounted on the base member, said mandrel support memberincluding a journaling section at one end thereof connected to the basemember for pivoting the support member thereon and a transverselyextending support section, a mandrel mounted on the support section,said mandrel having a flat extremity and a curved extremity with aslidable plate mounted centrally in the curved extremity, a pair offorming arms pivotally mounted on the upper surface of the mandrel andhaving forming rollers at the ends of the same, linkage means connectingthe forming arms to the slidable plate in the mandrel to cause theforming arms with rollers thereon to move along a path parallel to thecurved extremity of the mandrel, pivoted arm means carried by a portionof the mandrel support member, said forming arms and said pivoted armmeans being adapted to engage the edges of a flat metal plate to drawthe plate around the mandrel, and motive means for pivoting the formingarms and for moving the pivoted arm means to form the blank around themandrel.

2. The forming machine of claim 1 and including a pivoted fiat member atthe fiat extremity of the mandrel operative to be pivoted against anedge of the flat metal plate to bend the fiat metal plate remote fromthe forming arms.

3. The forming machine of claim 2 in which the mandrel is slidablymounted on the support section and removable to permit substitution ofvarying sized mandrels.

4. The forming machine of claim 2 in which the mandrel support memberincludes a latch at one extremity cooperative with a latch part on thebase frame to position the support member relative to the base frameduring a forming operation and when released to permit pivotal movementof the mandrel support member relative to the base frame to remove aformed flat plate from the machine.

5. The forming machine of claim 2 and including second motive meansattached to the base member and to the pivoted fiat member for pivotingthe flat member in the bending of the edge of the flat plate.

6. The forming machine of claim 2 which also includes a pivoted framepart positioned on the mandrel support member and having detachable armswhich grip the edges of the plate member and pull the edges toward themandrel as the pivoted frame part is moved with movement of the motivemeans.

7. The forming machine of claim 6 and including a flange on the mandrelsupport member adapted to be selectively connected to the pivoted fiatmember on the mandrel and the second motive means to pivot the supportmember and raise the mandrel for the removal and insertion of the metalplates.

8. The forming machine of claim 7 in which the motive means arebi-directional hydraulic actuators and include a hydraulic source andcontrol valve means for selectively operating each of the motive meansin the forming operation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,103,243 9/1963 Senior 72-3092,632,493 3/1953 Gray et al. 72-297 2,924,262 2/1960 Hufgard et al.72296 2,442,268 5/ 1948 Fields et al 72297 RICHARD J. HERBST, PrimaryExaminer M. J. KEENAN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 72-308, 400

